Tag: isis mobile payments

The joint venture from T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T has now finally launched throughout the U.S.

The approach of the Isis mobile payments wallet launch was first reported by Mobile Commerce Press from the Money2020 event, and now the day has finally come in which the service has rolled out across the United States so that users will be able to use their devices to pay for their purchases.

Now the market is wondering whether or not Isis will be any more successful than its many competitors.

Although there are around 40 handsets that are considered to be compatible with Isis mobile payments, they still represent a considerable minority of the devices currently owned by Americans. This has generated significant skepticism as to whether or not the carrier backed venture will have any more luck than its primary competition, Google Wallets, which remains primary little known and little used.

Furthermore, there are many other barriers to adoption presented by this mobile payments method.

Even among consumers who do have the right type of smartphones – which are exclusively Android based and require specific types of technology – using this mobile payments system isn’t merely a matter of obtaining the wallet app. Though an app is required from the Play Store in order to use the service, there is also a physical update that must be made to the device before purchases can be made.

In order to use the “contactless” mobile payments from Isis, the smartphone user with the right kind of Android device will need to head to AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon Wireless in order to obtain an “enhanced” SIM card in order to improve the security on the device so that it will be possible to safely use the service. Once that card has been activated, then credit and debit cards can be added to the digital wallet, and the consumer can find retailers, restaurants, and other locations which accept this form of transaction.

The number of shoppers across the United States who will actually choose to make this effort to select Isis mobile payments over others – or traditional card and cash-based methods – has yet to be seen.

Mike Abbot presented the future of this smartphone based program.

Money2020 was stirring with the latest mobile payments news that was released by the Isis smartphone based wallet through the presentation made by its CEO, Mike Abbott.

The primary focus of the presentation was that the service makes paying simple, secure, and smarter.

The central element of the Isis mobile payments wallet is that a user is able to add a multiple credit cards into this digital service, and that each of these cards can be accessed through a single password or pin. Moreover, the type of card that can be added to the wallet is not limited to credit.

This mobile payments service also holds loyalty cards and opportunities for discounts and offers.

For example, beyond the loyalty cards that allow for points collection and redemption, for example, this mobile payments service also gives users the ability to receive and store coupons and deal offers that can be redeemed in store.

The mobile payments wallet is based on technology referred to as Smart Tap. This is an NFC based technology that allows a smartphone to be tapped against a reader device in order to complete a transaction.

Abbot announced that new phones are now being rolled out through partnerships with Verizon Wireless, AT&T Mobile, and T-Mobile. These devices will be sold with the Isis wallet preloaded, so that consumers will automatically have this service available to them upon the purchase of their devices. The launch of the preloaded phones will occur within the last quarter of this year.

It was noted that while some may think that mobile payments are not taking off at a rapid rate, the latest predictions for the United States are implying that half (50 percent) of all households will be using this type of transaction in at least one form by the year 2020. This indicates that the potential for growth in mobile wallets that are not limited to a single type of card and that also include loyalty programs and coupons, is a tremendous one and that it should not be overlooked or underestimated.